Consolidation and Price Fixing in the Frozen Potato Market

The frozen potato market is highly consolidated, with only four major companies controlling 97% of the industry. This lack of competition has led to accusations of price fixing, as evidenced by a bar owner named Josh Saltzman who noticed simultaneous price increases from his suppliers. His frustration led him to tweet about these suspicious patterns, and two years later, his observations were referenced in lawsuits against these companies, claiming that their collusion harmed profits for restaurants and grocery stores. This case highlights the overarching issues in the agricultural supply chain, where a few powerful firms can manipulate prices away from competitive market norms.